ottawa –
Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne said Wednesday he is confident all prime ministers will embark on a unified “Team Canada” approach to dealing with President Donald Trump’s tariff threats.
His confidence comes despite early signs of cracks in that unity ahead of an emergency meeting between Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his colleagues this afternoon.
President Trump said in a social media post Monday night that he would impose 25% tariffs until Canada and Mexico stop illegal border crossings and stop drugs such as fentanyl from entering the United States.
Both Alberta Premier Daniel Smith and Quebec Premier Francois Legault said their concerns about the U.S.-Canada border are valid and need to be addressed.
In Quebec City on Wednesday morning, Legault said Trudeau should present a plan to reassure the president-elect that the Canadian border is safe and not try to deny there is a problem. Ta.
Addressing the Liberal caucus, Champagne said he agrees that Ottawa should “double down” on the border with more assets and is calling on premiers to work with the federal government.
“My appeal to all prime ministers is: let’s work together,” he said. “When it comes to the United States, it’s always best to come together and face challenges with a united front.”
He added that on the issues raised by President Trump, “we are more than capable of working together.”
Trudeau and the prime minister will hold a virtual meeting at 5 p.m. with Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, Minister of Public Safety and Intergovernmental Affairs Dominic LeBlanc, and Canadian Ambassador to the United States Kirsten Hillman.
The prime ministers had requested talks on Monday, before the next U.S. president threatened to impose tariffs on products from Canada and Mexico.
The House of Commons held an emergency debate on the threat Tuesday night at the request of the NDP and Conservatives.
Freeland said during the debate that Canada is the United States’ largest export market, and that includes essential goods such as oil, power and critical minerals.
“Canada is essential to the United States’ domestic energy supply,” she said.
President Trump has promised to cut U.S. energy prices in half within 18 months, but that could become even more difficult if a 25% premium is added to Canadian oil imports. In 2023, Canadian oil accounted for nearly two-thirds of total U.S. oil imports and about one-fifth of U.S. oil supplies.
Freeland also said law enforcement and border authorities in both countries are working to interdict fentanyl imports from countries such as China.
“Canada is absolutely committed to working with America’s neighbors to ensure that our northern border is completely secure,” she said.
Freeland frequently uses the personal relationship he developed with Robert Lighthizer, Trump’s previous point man on tariffs, as a way to assure Canadians that Ottawa is on top of things. I’ve pointed it out.
However, the key cabinet position in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative will now go to Jamieson Greer, Lighthizer’s former chief of staff.
Still, Champagne said Lighthizer remains “a cornerstone of shaping U.S. trade policy” and one of the incoming Trump administration’s key voices on trade.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poièvre said in a House of Commons debate that Trudeau should have been better prepared for this threat.
“President Trump said he was going to do this. He was elected three weeks ago. During that time, the prime minister would have been furiously planning, preparing and meeting with the prime minister to discuss countermeasures.” he said. Said.
“And now we know there was only one response he came up with since the threat happened, and that was a Zoom call.”
Poièvre said Canada needs a “realistic plan.”
NDP MP Blake Desjarlais called on Canada to diversify its trade away from the United States.
He said Canada will show the U.S. and President Trump that “not only is our industry the best and produces the best quality, but it’s in demand in other parts of the world, including Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand.” said it was necessary.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 27, 2024.
With files from Morgan Rowley in Montreal
